Coupling for use between trucks and the like



April 27 ,1926. 1,582,344

H. NATTRASS l CQUPLING-FOR USE BETWEEN TRUCKS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. -19t 1925 Patented Apr. z?,r 1926,

.j UNITED- srafrss PATENT lorries.

` `IIELOTARD NALITTKRASS, "O FWELLINGTON, yNEW ZEALAND.

y COUPLING'FOR 'USE *BETWEEN TRUCKS AND THE LIKE.

i V'1%.pp1ica-ton filed Novemberf To all Awhom t may conce/rn; v

Be it `known that I, HOWARD NATTRASS,

citizen of Dominion of New Zealand, -residing rat 29 hit `lgrave Street,v llellington, New Zealand, have invented certain newnand useful .Imjn'ovei'nents i-n Couj'ilin'gs for Use Between Trucks and the like., Vof lwhich the following a specification. f

This invention relates to couplings usedy between trucks vof string or train thereof employed for carrying heavy loads, and Y where there is providedthroughout the string entrain of vehicles, zii-power shaft in sec-v tions, coupled together' by universal joints in order that driving power maybe applied tothe :running wheelsof the vehicles.

At Vthe .present time'4 it :is necessarvin order .to `successfully operate ya string or train `of vehicles fitted witha powershaftas aforej said to provide a special'separate .distance bar or rod between each pair of vehicles in order to .maintain the latter Vat proper distances apart, and relievethe sections of power shaft between the vehicles ofpulling and pushing strain, so ythat it will function prop-` erly in transmitting driving power to the,

vehicle wheels.` .f Y Y The present invention has for itsobjectthe provision of an improved 'form of coupling for use between a pair of vehicles, said coupling ser-ving both as farmeans of maintainingk the vehiclesat correct distances aoart and.`

valso as :a means of transmitting driving -power from vehicletovehicle'without sub- ;mitting the driving means `to strains other than driving strain.

The improved device compris-es a .tubular j member provided with hollow part spherical ends Vadapted to be detachably secured in larger part spherical `portions attached to the vehicles, so as r.tofconnect the latter, the

tubular member acting 4as a distance bar, with its part spherical ends operating in the y1S), 1925. SeriaIiNo. 70,151.

1n .the accompanying vdrawings, in conjunction with which lthe Vinvention. will be more particularly described: e

Figure 1 is an elevation showing an enginerk or `power unit, connected toa truck by means of the improved coupling, while,

:Figure 2 is la longitudinal sectional .view

(broken) of the'coupling. f

Thefengineor power unit, `preferably comprises a .truck 1, equipped preferably with4 a petrol :driven .motor k.2, speed gears, brakes,

clutch and re-versegear,"andialso with reduction geen through which power .is transmitted to a shaft 4f' mounted y,lengthways vinv `the truck lysfiid shaft `il havingkeyed thereon. a `worin `5 which meshes with a worm wheel 6 lreyedfon rone of the axles 7- of the ruiming wheels 8 of the truck .1, the other of said Vaxles 7 being driven through a -chain drive 9 from the worin driven .axle 7.

The shaft 4 projects from each end of the truck 1, and is squared or otherwise formed to take one of `the sockets of a universal joint 10 the other socket of whichis fitted on the end of a section 19 of shaft located between the truck y1, and a .truck .14 to be propelled. j

rlhe section 19 of shaft is enclosed .in a tubular member or housing 26 provided with hollow part spherical ends 26a adapted to be inserted in larger part spherical yportions 2T .at the outer ends ofhollow fittings 28 providedwith flanges 28a through which, or

by otherineens, said hollow :fittings 28 are secured to the :trucks '1 .andlet adapted to be coupled'together and driven. A

The part spherical ends 2620i 'the tubular member of housing 26 vare retained in the kpart spherical ,portions .27 of the hollow fitf` tings 28 attached to the trucks 1 and 14,.hy

Vmeans of rings 29 vslipped yonsaidtubular member or housing 2G, said rings 29 being shaped to embrace or it the part spherical ends 26a of the tubular member or housing 26 and being provided with flanges 29, lugs or the like through which the flanges 30 lugs or the like on the part spherical portio'ns 27 of the hollow fittings 28 attached to the vehiclesfbolts or screws are passed to lsecure said part spherical portions 27 and the rings 29, together, and the part spherical ends 26a within the united portions 27 and k29. By removing the rings 29, the ends 26a V.of the tubular member or housing v26 can be withdrawn from the part spherical portions 27.

The openings 3l in the rings 29 are made large enough to allow a pre-determined amount of movement of the tubular member or housing 26 in any direction, as in a universal joint.

The trucks 14 of the train are each provided with a shaft 15, worm 16 thereon, worm wheel 17, and chain drive 18 similar to and acting in a similar manner to the shaft 4, worm 5, worm wheel 6, and chain drive 9 of the truck 1 of the engine or power unit, so that each axle 2O of each truck 14 will also be driven.

The means described serve as a flexible coupling and distance rod between the vehicles and maintain the' latter at the desired distance apart.

The enlargements formed by the securing together of the part spherical portions 27 rings 29 and ends 26a provide housings for the universal joints 10, the ends of the shafts 4 and 15 of the trucks entering the hollow fittings 28 attached thereto to receive sockets of said universal joints 10, while the aforesaid tubular member or housing 26 is provided preferably at each end with roller bearings 32 to reduce friction caused by rotation of the section 19, of the power or driving shaft therein.

The centres of the universal joints 10 and the housings therefor coincide with each other and by the arrangement described the power shaft section 19 between the vehicles or trucks, while free to turn and transmit driving power from one vehicle to the other, is relieved of all end strain by the flexible coupling, consisting of the tubular member 26, and the part spherical portions, ends, rings and hollow ttings.

rlhe section of shaft 19 performs no part in the maintaining of. the vehicles at a proper distance apart, the tubular member 26 being provided for this purpose, in order to prevent any pushing or pulling strain being borne by the shafts 4, 19 and 15, thereby leaving the universal joints 10 free to function freely in transmitting driving power to the axles of the running wheels of the train. j Y

Any number of trucks 14 can be connected together in the same manner as the engine or power unit and the truck 14 shown in Figure 1.

The engine or power unit can be used at either end of a train, or between any two trucks 14 thereof, and in each case transmits power from the shaft 4 via sections of shaft 19 and universal joints 10 between the vehicles, to the shafts 15 thereof, the latter in turn transmitting power via further shafts 19 and universal joints 10, to following or preceding trucks 14.

What I do claim and desire to secure by the Letters Patent of the United States 1s:-

1. A coupling for the purpose set forth, comprising a tubular distance member between a pair of vehicles and attached thereto by universal joints, a section of power shaft housed in said distance member, and drivably connecting `through universal joints, sections of power shaft on said vehicles, the centres of the joints of the tubular distance member, coinciding` with the centres of the joints of the power shaft, substantially as described.

2.y A coupling for the purpose set forth, comprising a section of shaft and universal joints, drivably connecting two shafts of separate vehicles; a tubular distance member enclosing said section of shaft, hollow fittings on said vehicles for receiving the ends of the vehicle shafts, and inter engaging part spherical portions on said tubular member, and said hollow fittings adapted to be secured together, to provide housings for said universal joints, substantially as described. Y

A coupling for the purpose set forth as in claim 2, and wherein the tubular distance member is provided at its ends with part spherical portions adapted to be entered in part spherical portions on fittings secured to a vehicle; and flanged rings on said tubular distance member adapted to be secured to the part spherical portions of said fittings for the purpose of retaining the part spherical portions of the tubular distance member within the part spherical portions of said fittings, substantially as described. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specilication.

HOWARD NATTRASS. 

